Railway truck



G. F. COUCH RAILWAY TRUCK Feb. 15, 1938.

Filed Nov. 2, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 Feb. 15, 1938. G F COUCH 2,108,653

RAILWAY TRUCK Filed Nov. 2, 1 954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 G. F. COUCH RAILWAY TRUCK Filed NOV. 2, 1934 Feb. 15, 193$.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented e. 1, i3

airs

Glenn F. Couch, Rochester, N. lY., assignor to The Syxnington-Gould Corporation, Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of Maryland Application November 2, 19341, Serial No. 751,2493

13 Claims.

This invention relates to railway trucks and, more particularly, to the construction of the side frames, bolsters and spring nests thereof for supporting such bolsters from said frames.

I'he principal object of my invention, generally considered, is the provision of a railway truck in which the side frames are readily detachable, and in which the bolster is supported by springs which cooperate with one another in order to increase the capacity of the arrangement as the load is increased.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a railway truck in which the bolster is supported from the side frames by both coil and i5 leaf springs, the central portion of the leaf spring being at approximately the center of the frame and the end portions disposed either longitudinally or laterally thereof, and the coil springs being vertically disposed with respect to portions 20 of said leaf spring between the center and end portions so that said leaf spring assists in the actuation of said coil springs.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a railway truck in which the ends of the' bolster are received in castings or saddles which are, in turn, supported by leaf or semi-elliptic springs therebeneath and coil or helical springs, vertically disposed with respect to intermediate portions of said leaf springs, so that said bolster 30 is initially supported by said leaf springs until they are deflected a predetermined amount to actuate said coil springs.

A still further-object of my invention is the provision of a railway truck in which the bolster is supported by both coil and leaf springs, and in which the bolster may angle in a horizontal plane with respect to the associated frames.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particular arrangement and con- 40 struction of the various parts will become apparent as the descriptionproceeds.

Referring to the drawings illustrating my invention, the scope whereof is defined by the appended claims:-

45 Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a railway truck embodying my invention, the position of the bolster being that when it is supported entirely by the semi-elliptic springs under light car conditions.

50 Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan of the truck shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional View of one of the truck frames on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the 55 arrows, the position of the bolster with respect to the frames being that under the condition of an increase in the lading so that the semi-elliptic spring bears against the helical spring caps.

Figure 4 is a view corresponding to Figure 3, but showing the position of the bolster when the 5 car is loaded still further, or until the bolster supporting casting contacts with the extended tops of the helical spring caps.

Figure 5 is a view corresponding to Figure 4, but showing the final stage in which the helical l0 springs have been pushed away from their contact with the semi-elliptic spring after contact between the spring caps and bolster supporting casting.

Figure 6 is a view corresponding to Figure 1, but showing another embodiment of my invention.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view of the truck on the line 'l'l of-Figure 6, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters, and first considering the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, there is shown a portion of a railway vehicle or truck comprising side frames I, only one of which is illustrated, each side frame having a compression member or portion 2, a tension member or portion 3, and spaced connecting struts, bolster guide columns, or portions t spacing intermediate portions of said compression and tension members, and leaving a bolster or window opening 5 therebetween.

The tension members is formed with horizontal shelves or abutment portions ii adjacent the junctions with the guide columns and normally engaged by the ends of the leaf or semielliptic spring l disposed in the bolster opening 5 and, in turn, supporting a frame or saddle member 8 having a downwardly opening pocket 9 receiving the upper portion of the semi-elliptic spring band in, thereby preventing undesired displacement therebetween.

The saddle member or casting 8 has a normally horizontal portion M on which rests the adjacent end portion of the bolster i2 and side portions 63 normally embracing said end portion therebetween. Rear guide lugs i l only are provided on said bolster.

The saddle or casting t is guided between the guiding portions it of the guide columns d by extending between the flanges it of said guide columns and having outstanding rib or flange portions ll adapted to slide on the transverse guiding surfaces of the guide portions i5.

The tension member 3 is formed with upwardly opening pockets l8 on the lower web l9 thereof receiving coil or helical springs 20, only one of which is illustrated, which support spring caps 2| upwardly extended to underlie the saddle casting 8 and be received in downwardly opening pockets 22 thereon. Each spring cap 2| is apertured, as indicated at 23, to receive the semielliptic spring 1 which extends therethrough and through the inner webs 24 of the guide columns so as to reach the supporting shelves 6. The relation between the springs, spring caps and bolster saddle is such that under light car conditions the bolster is supported by the semi-elliptic springs 1 only, the saddle 8 not engag the extended spring caps 2|, and the elliptic springs not engaging the bosses 25 on the helical springengaging webs 26 of the spring caps 2|.

' Although I do not show the ends of a frame, I contemplate the provision of journal boxes integral therewith, such journal boxes and end portions not being shown as they may be of conventional construction. Provision for out-ofsquareness or flexibility of the truck is effected by connection between the bolster and frames or supporting saddles, such flexibility being provided by forming the surfaces 21 of the bolster, which are disposed between and normally engaged by the surfaces 28 of the saddle or casting 8, cylindrical, and the surfaces 28 coaxial therewith, with the axis of said surfaces inside of the center line of the side frame so that the bolster can be withdrawn, said axis being also desirably on the central longitudinal vertical plane of the bolster.

The surfaces 21 and 28. terminate at their outer ends in portions 29 and 30 which together provide generally cylindrical pockets receiving locking members 3|. Each locking member desirably comprises a normally vertical cylindrical body 32 and a lower laterally extending lug 33, and is desirably initially inserted with the lug extending outward or away from the bolster, the saddle 8 being provided with an elongated aperture 34 adapted to receive said body and lug portions. When the locking member 3| has been inserted so that the lug lies above the horizontal portion H of the saddle, the locking member is then turned, so that the lug points inward or toward the other locking member (not illustrated), while the bolster is elevated, so that when the bolster is dropped to position,'as shown in Figure 1, the lug portion 33 is received in a pocket 35 in the lower side of the bolster and securely held in place. Sufllcient clearance is provided between the locking members 3| and the bolster to allow for the desired flexibility or angling in a horizontal plane while preventing undesired displacement or withdrawal of the bolster.

From the foregoing disclosure, it will be seen that I initially provide for the support of the bolster by abutments 6 disposed toward the ends of the frames, thereby greatly decreasing the bending moments on said frames. As the semielliptic spring in each frame is deflected upon an increase of the load applied to the bolster, the semi-elliptic spring bears upon the helical spring caps 2 l, as illustrated in Figure 3, at points intermediate its center and ends.

During this stage, the helical springs 20 are not deflected to the same degree as the semi-elliptic spring I, because the latter is temporarily a double lever of the second class. In other words, if the spring band I0 is depressed one-quarter inch, after engagement between the semi-elliptic spring 1 and the caps 2|, the coils are compressed approximately one-half this amount, the arrangement between the coil and semi-elliptic springs being thus temporarily a series-parallel arrangement.

As the bolster moves further downward, the

saddle casting 8 contacts with the extended tops of the helical spring caps, as shown in Figure 4,

whereupon both types of springs are deflected,

upon further downward movement of the bolster exactly the sameamount until the final stage shown in Figure 5 is reached, in which the helical spring caps have been pushed away from their to a straight parallel arrangement. This combination provides for the gradual building up of spring capacity at a faster ratio than that of either a'straight series or straight parallel spring arrangement, and without the sudden augmentations of capacity characteristic of stepped spring groups where the shorter. springs are placed under initial compression.

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, there is shown an arrangement which amounts to an inversion of the embodiment of Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, as far as the nests of springs is concerned. As in the first embodiment, I show a portion of a railway truck comprising side frames I .only one of which is illustrated, each side frame having a compression member 2, a tension member 3' and spaced connecting struts, bolster guide columns, or portions 4 spacing intermediate portions of said compression and tension members, and leaving a window or bolster opening 5 therebetween.

In the present embodiment, the side frames may be of conventional character, or as shown in my Patent No. 1,652,808. Resting on the tension members of the frames is a spring plank 36, as distinguished from the first embodiment which is illustrated without a spring plank. Said plank has corrugations 31 providinggrooves or pockets receiving the auxiliary reinforcements 38 of the side frame and serving to interlock'the spring plank to said frame. Resting on the plank is a spring pan or abutment casting 38' desirably formed with corresponding pockets or channels 39 to receive the embossments 31 on the plank for maintaining the desired relationship. The pan 38' is formed with a generally central abutment portion 40 providing an upwardly opening pocket 4| receiving the spring band "I of a semielliptic spring serving to initially support under I light load conditions the associated bolster |2 by engaging abutment portions 6 thereon.

The bolster is formed with downwardly opening pockets l8 on the upper web l5 thereof receiving coil or helical springs 20 which pass through the lower web 42 of the bolster and whose axes desirably lie in the central longitudinal vertical plane of said bolster and rest on 'lower spring caps 2| downwardly extended, and

Each cap 2! is apertured, as indicated at 23, to receive the semi-elliptic spring or springs i which extends therethrough to reach the abutments b The relation between the springs, spring cap, bolster and pan is such that under light car conditions, as illustrated, the bolster is supported by the semi-elliptic springs at each end only, the springs Ell not engaging the bolster but the caps 2! being supported on the semielliptic spring and held out of supported engagement with the pan it.

As the semi-elliptic spring i is deflected upon an increase of the load applied to the bolster, the upper web of said bolster approaches the .tops of the originally free helical springs th but the latter recede downward from the descending bolster at about one-half the bolster speed because their inverted caps or seats are temporarily resting on intermediate points on the upturned semi-elliptic spring.

When the bolster top web touches the helical springs 20 but before the helical seat castings touch bottom, we have a series parallel arrangement between the springs comparable with that illustrated in Figure 3, where the semi-elliptic springs act as double levers of the second class, resulting in compression of the cells at a rate approximately one-half the rate of deflection of the semi-elliptic spring.

When the helical seat castings touch bottom, then we have parallel action between all the springs because contact between the semi-elliptic spring and the helical spring seats is broken and all springs deflect at the same rate until final closure.

In the present embodiment, the bolster is provided with conventional outer guide lugs tit and inner guide lugs it which cooperate with the bolster guiding portions H5 in a conventional manner for maintaining the desired relation between the bolster and frame, as will be understood.

Although preferred embodiments of my invention have been disclosed, it will be understood that modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. It will also be understood that both embodiments may involve journal boxes integral with or separable from the end portions of the frames, as may be desired.

I claim:--

1. In a railway truck, in combination, a side frame formed with compression and tension members spaced at intermediate portions by guide columns, leaving a bolster opening therebetween,

spring means disposed in the lower portion of said opening, other spring means vertically disposed with respect to said first-mentioned spring means, and a bolster initially supported on said first-mentioned spring means only, whereby said first-mentioned spring means, after being defieeted a predetermined amount, actuates the other spring means for a predetermined distance, after which the bolster positively actuates said other spring means so that it is supported by both of said spring means acting in parallel.

2. In a railway truclnin combination, a side frame formed with compression and tension members spaced at intermediate portions by guide columns, leaving a bolster opening therebetween, a spring supported by said frame, spring means disposed below said first-mentioned spring and between said guide columns and so arranged, that the spring serves to support an associated bolster under light load, and upon being deflected a predetermined amount, actuates said spring means in series-parallel therewith until positive engagement is effected between the bolster and said spring means, so that said bolster is supported by said spring and spring means acting in parallel.

3. In a railway trucir, in combination, a side frame formed with compression and tension members spaced at intermediate portions by guide columns; leaving a bolster opening therebetween, a spring supported by said frame, spring means disposed above said first-mentioned spring and so arranged that the spring serves to support an associated bolster under light load, and upon being deflected a predetermined amount actuating said spring means in series-parallel therewith until direct engagement is effected between the bolster and said spring means, so that said bolster is supported by said spring and spring means acting in parallel.

4. In a railway truck, in combination, a side frame formed with compression and tension members spaced at intermediate portions by guide columns, leaving a bolster opening therebetween,'a semi-elliptic spring disposed in the lower portion of said opening and with its ends extending beneath said guide columns, helical springs vertically disposed with respect to said semielliptic spring, and a bolster initially supported on said semi-elliptic spring only, whereby the semi-elliptic spring, after being deflected a predetermined amount, serves as a lever acting on the ends of said helical springs for actuating the same for a predetermined distance, after which positive engagement is efiected between the bolster and said helical springs, so that said bolster is supported on said semi-elliptic and helical springs acting in parallel.

5. In a railway truck, in combination, a side frame formed with compression and tension members spaced at intermediate portions by guide columns, leaving a bolster opening therebetween, a semi-elliptic spring supported by said frame, a saddle supported by said spring, helical springs, spring caps extending upwardly from said helical springs, normally spaced from abutment portions on said saddle, and apertured for the passage of said semi-elliptic spring, said helical springs being arranged below said semielliptic spring, whereby the semi-elliptic spring and saddle serve to support an associated bolster under light load, and upon said spring being deflected a predetermined amount, said spring directly engages abutments on said helical spring caps for actuating said helical springs in seriesparallel with said semi-elliptic spring until said spring caps engage said abutment portions and the bolster is supported by said semi-elliptic and helical springs acting in parallel.

6. In a railway truck, in combination, a side frame formed with compression and tension members spaced at intermediate portions by guide columns, leaving a bolster opening therebetween, a spring plank received in said opening and supported on said tension member, a spring pan disposed on said plank, a semi-elliptic spring with a band resting on said pan and extending transversely of the frame, a bolster disposed above said semi-elliptic spring, and normally engaging the ends thereof for being supported solelythereby under light load, said bolster having downwardly opening pockets, coil springs disposed in said pockets, lower spring caps supporting said coil springs and, in turn, supported on said semi-elliptic spring under light load, said coil springs under light load being spaced from the upper wall of said bolster and said caps being then spaced from supporting surfaces of said pan, and the initial clearances being such that upon the semi-elliptic spring being deflected a predetermined amount it causes the coil springs to engage the upper wall of the bolster for actuation in series-parallel therewith, resulting finally in the spring caps engaging supporting surfaces on the pan, to cause said coil springs to then act in parallel with said semi-elliptic spring.

7. In a railway truck, in combination, a side frame formed with compression and tension members spaced at intermediate portions by guide columns, leaving a bolster opening therebetween, a semi-elliptic spring supported by means of said tension member, coil springs supported one between each end and the center of said semi-elliptic spring and vertically disposed with respect to said spring, a bolster, a bolstersupporting saddle casting upheld under light load by said semi-elliptic spring only and by all of said springs upon sumcient increase in the bolster load.

8. Ina railway truck, in combination, a side frame formed with compression and tension members spaced at intermediate portions by guide columns, leaving a bolster opening therebetween, a semi-elliptic spring supported by said tension member and provided with a spring band,

a casting with a downwardly opening Docket receiving the upper portion of said band and initially supported by said spring, said casting having side portions, a bolster resting on said casting and formed with lugs for limiting relative movement therebetween, and coil springs disposed beneath said semi-elliptic spring and provided with spring caps through which said semi-elliptic spring passes, which caps extend upwardly to underlie surfaces on the casting so that, when sufficient additional load is applied on the boliter, said coil springs come into action for the support thereof. I

9. A side frame for railway trucks formed with compression and tension members spaced at intermediate portions by guide columns, leaving a bolster opening therebetween, said tension member having upper and lower webs, said upper web being apertured adjacent said guide columns to receive helical springs and permit them to be supported on said lower web, said tension member also having shelves disposed longitudinally of the frame, beyond said bolster opening, for direct support of the ends of a leaf spring.

10. A spring nest adapted for insertion in the bolster opening of a railway vehicle side frame comprising a set of leaf springs and a set of hellcal springs and associated caps, characterized by the helical springs being vertically disposed with respect to portions of said leaf springs intermediate the centers and ends, and said leaf springs passing through apertures in said caps, with sufficient initial clearance provided, so that said leaf springs initially act independently of the helical springs and after a predetermined deflection take up the clearance and bring said helical springs into action.

11. A spring nest adapted for insertion in the bolster opening of a railway vehicle side frame comprising a set of leaf springs and a set of helical springs with caps, said sets being vertically disposed with respect to one another and arranged so that clearance is provided between the bolster and one of said sets and between said sets so that under light load one set only acts, then as the load increases the clearance between the sets is taken up and both sets act in series-parallel, and, upon increasing the load still further, said clearance with respect to the bolster is taken up so that both sets act in .parallel.

12. In a railway truck, in combination, a side frame formed with tension and compression members spaced at intermediate portions by guide columns to leave a bolster opening there between, spring means supported by said tension member, a casting initially supported by said spring means, said casting having side portions, a bolster supported by said casting and formed with lugs overlying said side portions for limiting relative movement therebetween, additional springs disposed beneath said spring means and provided with spring caps initially engaging the first-named spring means'and means on said cap which extend upwardly and underlie a portion of said casting, said extensions being also initially spaced therefrom, whereby said lastmentioned springs come into action for the support of said bolster when suflicient additional load is applied thereto.

13. In a railway truck, in combination, a side frame comprising tension and compression members spaced at intermediate portions by guide columns to leave a bolster opening therebetween, spring means supported by said tension member, a casting initially supported by said spring means, a bolster supported by said casting, side portions on said casting interposed between the guide columns and bolster, lugs on said bolster overlying said side portions for limiting relative movement between the bolster and casting, an additional spring disposed beneath said spring means and provided with a spring cap having a lower portion thereof interposed between said springs and supported by said additional spring; said spring cap having an upper portion thereof underlying and normally spaced from said casting so that when sufficient additional load is supplied to the bolster said additional spring comes into action for the support thereof.

/ GLENN F. COUCH. 

